Fearless Love at the Southside Workers' Center
Presbyterians Bev and Sara with the joyful recipients of a PC(USA) Self- Development of People grant for skills training of day laborers in Tucson, AZ
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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
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Weekly Happenings at SHPC
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March 2
, 2017
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First Sunday in Lent
Fearless Love
This Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 9:30 a.m., we begin our Lenten journey towards Holy Week. This is our time to get to know ourselves better, to drop down into our inner deeper selves and strengthen our connection to the Sacred Source of Love. And it's our time to get to know Jesus better, by encountering our beloved Teacher in some of the most moving stories in the New Testament. Letting go of fear and leading with love takes attention, intention, and practice. Let's start this Sunday!
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A Note From
Pastor Bev
Fear is rampant in our society now, and it's contagious. Down in the Borderlands, a teacher colleague told us about her middle schoolers, who can't concentrate in class because while they are in class, their parents are in imminent danger of being seized and deported. These children are afraid. Closer to home, our children at Short School may well be feeling the same fear.
What is God calling us to do? The wonderful people at St. Mark's and Southside Presbyterian are working in South Tucson to help families put together emergency plans in case one family member is picked up by ICE. St. Mark's welcomed into sanctuary a man in imminent danger of deportation, and he's living in the church library. They are sacrificing a rest room to install a shower! Southside has a day workers' center on site, providing a reasonably safe place to congregate for those who want work.
Jorge is standing next to me in the photo up top at the Southside Workers' Center. He's responsible for equitable distribution of the work opportunities, negotiating with potential employers, and avoiding putting undocumented workers into harm's way. He spent the morning with 20 Presbyterians from my team (ACSWP, the national church's policy and ethics advisory group) and a delegation to BorderLinks (http://www.borderlinks.org/
http://www.borderlinks.org/
from our sister church, Westminster/Tiburon. He told us his story; he was able to get papers when our country offered amnesty in the 1980's.
When he found out that WE were the Presbyterians who had given Southside Workers' Center a grant for skills training through our Self-Development of People program, he was delighted. He told Sara Lisherness, Director of Compassion, Peace, and Justice ministries, "Ill come to your house and wash your car!" We clapped for him and he said it was the first time he'd ever received a round of applause. I cried.
Friends, we are living in challenging times. Thank God we have an instruction manual called the New Testament.
The Lenten season is an opportunity for spiritual growth and revelation. I am so grateful to be on this spiritual journey with you.
With Lenten blessings,
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Friday, Mar. 3rd
Noon
5:00 p.m.
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Bible Study with Pastor Bev
Yoga |
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Sunday, Mar. 5th
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
2-4 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
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FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
FEARLESS LOVE
Coffee and Fellowship -- All Welcome!
Youth REST Chefs Cook 4 Good
Mexico Mission Informational BBQ |
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Wednesday, Mar. 8th
7:30 p.m.
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SHPC Singers
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Friday, Mar. 10th
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N.B. LENT BIBLE STUDY MAY MOVE TO NIGHTTIME SPOT
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Sunday, Mar. 12th
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT
FEARLESS LOVE
Coffee and Fellowship -- All Welcome!
YOUTH GROUP!
Crop Walk |
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Bible Study Friday, March 3 at Noon
Psalm 27, Mark 5:21-43
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Please Remember in Your Prayers
The Ongaro Family, mourning the loss of Phyllis Ongaro, for God's presence and comfort in their bereavement;
Wil Swalberg, for complete recovery and for God's comfort in his bereavement;
Paul Lambert, for God's comfort as he grieves the loss of his beloved Mother;
Those living in the shadows and fearing deportation, for safety, security for their families and children, a path to citizenship, and sanctuary;
The victims of hate crimes, in Kansas and nationwide, and their loved ones, comfort in their sorrow, and safety and healing for the survivors;
Our country, for a way forward where we live our values of justice and equality for all people; for a well-informed citizenry; for government of, by, and for the people, with leaders of integrity, and for an end to hate crimes;
The refugees and displaced
, almost 1 out of 100 people in the world today, for safety, homes, the basics of life, and freedom from being scapegoated;
Our Muslim neighbors, subject to Islamophobia and hate crimes;
Our planet, the world's poor, all who suffer from disruptive climate change, may we continue our work to keep the planet livable;
Kelsey Lopin, for healing and full recovery from complications of Lyme disease, and for God's abiding presence, comfort, and love;
Andrea Proster, sister of Nancy Elberg, for complete healing, and for Nancy for continued strength in companioning her;
The PC(USA), as it strives to speak up effectively for justice for all people, especially the vulnerable and marginalized;
Dr. Doug Tilton, our PC(USA) mission co-worker in Southern Africa;
Our church community, renew us and grant us fortitude to continue to bring light to the darkness in this world.
Please take time this week to pray for those on our list.
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YOGA THIS
FRIDAY 5 p.m.
See you on March 3, 17, 24!
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Fearless Love - Lenten Series Begins March 5
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Floral art by Flower Guild for Betty Swalberg's Celebration of Life
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This Season of Lent we will focus on the theme of
FEARLESS LOVE
with quiet time,
space for pondering,
reflection,
prayer,
meditative music,
love songs.
What are you afraid of?
How much power does fear have over you?
Is fear sapping your energy?
Would you love more if you feared less?
How can we grow into fearless love?
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Food 4 Good - Youth REST Cooking
This Sunday March 5, 2-4pm
Hello Parents of Food 4 Good Chefs,
This Sunday we will be cooking again for the REST Program. To accommodate another meeting, we will harvest and cook from 2-4pm at Sleepy Hollow Church. Please let us know (RSVP by signing up here) if your kids/teens can join us.
Questions? Contact
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Mexico Mission Informational BBQ this Sunday 3/5
5-7 p.m. Spread the word!
Calling all potential Mexico Mission participants and their parents,
We are pleased to let you know that we will again be going to Mexico this summer to build homes for families much less fortunate than ours. This year's trip is scheduled for Saturday, June 10 through Saturday, June 17.
We will host an informal barbecue for this year's interested team (students please bring your parents) to learn about the 2017 trip, as well as get to know us and other adult leaders. The barbecue will be at the Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church on
Sunday, March 5th, from 5pm to 7pm.
Please RSVP to Katie
Brendler at
[email protected] by
Thursday,
March 2nd (include "Mexico Mission" in the subject line of the e-mail) for the barbecue to confirm attendance so that we can plan for enough food and beverages.
We will supply the barbecue and drinks; please bring a side dish. Please bring a side dish (by last name):
Last Name Starting with A - K Salad, chips, vegetables
Last Name Starting with L - Z Dessert, fruit
Participants will be required to have a current passport for the trip. If a new passport is needed, the process could take a long time, so please get started now.
Please contact us if you have any questions. We are looking forward to a GREAT mission trip!
Mark Sarkisian Katie
Brendler
Cell
Ph
: 415-812-3395
Office
Ph
:
415-453-8221
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Garden Work Day
Saturday 3/11 from 9-11 a.m.
New Gardeners are welcome!
Gardeners of all ages and experience levels are welcome.
Questions? Contact
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Walk. Give. Change the world.
20th Annual Marin Crop Walk to End Hunger
Sunday, March 12 2pm (1:30pm registration) First Presbyterian San Rafael 1510 5th Ave, San Rafael
It's easy, walk just 3 miles with the SHPC team or at whatever pace you like.
Bring your kids, your neighbors, your friends, your dog.
Please sponsor our SHPC team or sign up to walk and get people to sponsor you or our team.
To donate to the SHPC team or to one of its team members, you can;
Once in the website, select "Donate", select "Donate to a team", select Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian team, and follow prompts.
- Donate by giving cash or writing a check to CWS/CROP after Sunday service. I will gladly take your money off your hands.
The money we raise goes to two local organizations (St Vincent de Paul free dining room and Interfaith Street Chaplaincy) and to Church World Service. Since the 1940s, Church World Service, through 37 Christian denominations that support it, has been educating, training, and providing food to people around the world to improve their lives. We walk to respond to resource shortages, to protect and provide for our vulnerable, to build sustainable community, and to show solidarity in a time of divisiveness.
To walk with us or for more information, please contact:
Robin Holway Abu-Aly
Phone: 271-5169
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An Invitation to the Congregation from Sasha de Frondeville:
My Senior Recital is
Sunday, March 19th at 3 p.m. in the Little Theater at Drake High School.
I would love it if you guys came out.
This is kind of the culmination of my high school music career, and I would love it if you could come see it.
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Report from Clerk of Session - Wed. Feb. 15 Meeting
New elders Merle and Ahmed were welcomed and Linda was thanked with love and appreciation. All elders were thanked for Annual Report and Annual Meeting. Finance (Doug) reported that the past Finance Elders of the church will be meeting in preparation for at least 2 Let's Talk education sessions about the church's finances, assets, and financial resiliency. Regular financial reports were reviewed. Steve Derr, manse liaison, presented information pertinent to lease renewal. The Session approved a 3 month extension of the manse lease through August 31, 2017. (While the Session is the decision making body on leases, including rental amounts, the congregation as a whole meets at a duly noticed congregational meeting for all decisions concerning loans, indebtedness, or sale of property, which would also need to be approved by the Presbytery.) LMP has requested a sit-down to discuss renewal of the lease, and conveyed their happiness with the church. Dennis, Janel, and Ahmed will represent the Session in initial conversation with LMP about renewal, with consultation from the church Real Estate team (Haden and Merle Ongaro and Steve Derr). Bev and Ahmed (B and G) will be taking inventory of many Building and Grounds needs and making lists for May 7, All Church TLC (formerly known as Work) Day. Youth program/Family Ministries (Janel) is building now that we have Sandra and a regular schedule. Youth REST cooking (Jen and Judy) has brought safety problems and inadequacies in the kitchen to our attention and is hoping for a kitchen remodel. Worship (Jody) reported that attendance has been excellent and the Flower Guild is preparing for Lent and Easter. Linda and Merle have set the All Church Picnic for April 30 in honor of Arbor Day. Mission (Patti) is seeking a new REST coodinator to replace Shannon, who has served honorably. Mexico Mission BBQ is 3/5, and Justice Garden kick off 2/26 after church. Patti has been the catalyst for the first ever Youth Climate Change Summit of Marin, with 8-12 high schools participating. The event is set for Sat. April 29, and Ethan is working with the youth on a film festival. Cynthia Scharf will be a key note speaker by Skype from Brussels, Belgium! Deacons (Kit) will host the Cinco de Mayo feast on 5/7. Bev will be in AZ 2/22-25 and in Puerto Rico with the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board 3/22-25. The meeting was opened and closed with prayer.
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What is God calling us to do about deportations and immigrant detention?
Let's start with study and prayer.
Watch for upcoming Let's Talks!
Our own Dennis Latta has become part of a team visiting immigrants in detention in Richmond. Contact
Bev if you are interested in joining this team.
Communities of faith throughout CA are connecting to share info, pool resources, and work together effectively. Here's a link from that group which is a good starting place:
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Thank You to all Who Pledged!
Thank you to 56 pledgers for pledging $138,713 to the life of church in 2017!
With gratitude,
Doug, Finance Elder and Stewardship Chair
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Love Note to the Flower Guild
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Left to right: Jody Brockett, Frankie Eakes, Millie Millar, Patti Vance, Merle Ongaro, Peg Maclise, Linda Peltzman
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Thank you for all the beauty that you bring to church life!
With love, your SHPC Family
Do you love arranging flowers?
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REST Program Needs You
We will continue to host meals through April. To
read more information about REST and to sign-up online, please click on this link:
If your youth want to get involved, join us once a month for Food 4 Good - Sleepy Hollow's Youth Cooking Program.
If you have questions, please contact Shannon Mong at
[email protected]
(phone is 415-279-2402).
In advance - thanks for your support of this year's REST evenings!
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From Millie Millar: We had a great time at the Women's REST!
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Koren Grubb and Natasha, her daughter, brought these home created artistic valentine's cookies! |
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Interested in being our REST Coordinator?
Our wonderful REST Coordinator Shannon is looking to pass the baton onto the next person. If you are interested in taking up coordination of this important ministry,
please contact Shannon Mong at
[email protected]
(phone is 415-279-2402).
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Wil LOVES an invite for lunch or dinner!
Thank you and bless you to all who have reached out to invite him over for a meal. You are lighting up his life!
And we thank him for his faithful and continuing FOOD BARREL MINISTRY.
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WE ALL LOVE FELLOWSHIP--
PLEASE SIGN UP TO HELP OUT
Fellowship time is organized by your Deacons. We need everyone to sign-up about 3-4 times a year.
Click below to sign up:
Sign up now and keep the hospitality
going!
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Don't be shy, Greeting is a Treat!
We've updated the signups for the new year!
Help with our ministry of hospitality by signing up to be a greeter! All you have to do is get to church by 9:15, light the candles, and hand out bulletins with a smile. Thank you to all who have signed up so far!
Thank you all for your continued support,
Jody Brockett,
Worship Elder
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What a blast to have a surprise visit from ZE faculty member Rev. Dr. Janie Spahr on Fat Sunday!
Join us at ZE!
"The best lakefront experience ever"
"Great classes"
"Awesome bike rides"
"Food was not bad and plentiful"
Guess who said which - Dennis Latta, Michael Durphy, Pastor Bev
Hope to see you there!
To learn more or to register for the event
check out their website:
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Pastor Bev's Office
A/K/A "Bev's Multi-purpose Room"
Home of our youth group, Bible Study, Session and committee meetings, AA, Thursday Healing Group, and much more
NOW HAS NEW COUCHES!
Many thanks to Shannon Mong, the Zirulnicks, Dennis Latta, and Richard Peltzman!
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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church
100 Tarry Road
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Katie Brendler,
Editor
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